Coaching great Kevin Sheedy is among the contenders to be elevated to AFL legend status at this year’s Hall of Fame gala event.
Sheedy is the favourite ahead of fellow Hall of Fame members Wayne Carey, Gary Ablett and Jason Dunstall to become the AFL’s 28th official legend at the annual function in Melbourne on Tuesday.
A four-time premiership coach during an astonishing 27-year reign at Essendon, Sheedy also excelled as a player with Richmond.
The self-described “back-pocket plumber” played 251 games for the Tigers between 1967-79, winning three premierships, and was named in the club’s team of the century.
A Hall of Fame inductee in 2008, Sheedy’s coaching success, promotion of indigenous players and quirky personality have made him one of the game’s most influential figures.
Retired greats Paul Roos and Tony Shaw are among the AFL figures who have backed Sheedy to earn legend status ahead of past superstars Carey, Ablett and Dunstall, who between them booted more than 3000 career goals.
Carey, who faced criminal charges in Australia and the United States during a turbulent playing career, has since had success as a commentator while Dunstall has juggled media duties with corporate roles.
But Ablett – arguably the most talented player of all time – has remained a recluse, struggling with drug-related controversies and mental health issues.
Former Sydney and St Kilda forward Tony Lockett – who played in the same 1980s-90s era – achieved legend status in 2015, while Brownlow Medallist and Adelaide premiership coach Malcolm Blight was elevated at last year’s event.
Six new Hall of Fame inductees will also be announced on Tuesday night.
Of the inclusions, at least two must be recent retirees whose careers finished in the past decade.
Another one of the half-dozen must be a coach/umpire/administrator or media representative.